Am I asleep during the cataract surgery?

[Long Prairie]

Am I asleep during the cataract surgery?

[Shippenville]

No, you are awake the entire time. You will be given some medication to relax you during the surgery. In some cases, eye drops are the only anesthesia needed.

[Long Valley]

It depends. You will be given eye drops to numb the eye. The anesthesiologist will give you medication through an I.V. to relax you. If you are still anxious or not fully comfortable, additional I.V. medication is given so that you are essentially asleep through the procedure. You may be awake or asleep during the surgery depending upon the amount of sedation given, but you will not be uncomfortable.

[Shippen]

No. Since this procedure does not take long, general anesthesia is unnecessary. Instead, the doctor will use a local or topical anesthetic to numb your eye and you will remain awake during the procedure. In most cases, "twilight sleep" is induced by an anesthesiologist to make you more relaxed.